When the Sustainable Development Goals, humanity’s blueprint for a better future, were launched in 2015, there was already growing alarm at the state of the planet’s freshwater resources.
Walk into one of Chile’s neighbourhood convenience stores, and you will see refill machines emblazoned with the name “Algramo”. Customers bring reusable containers – each fitted with a unique RFID tag – to refill daily essentials such as shampoo, washing-up liquid and detergent. They can also order refills to their door and pay via a phone app.
Near the Issyk-Kul Lake in the eastern mountains of the Kyrgyz Republic lies Jyrgalan, a village of 1,000 inhabitants. The scenic village was once a hidden gem but is quickly gaining traction as a tourist destination, with biking and hiking trails having multiplied. But this is posing challenges such as increased waste generation, including plastics.
International tourism is headed back to pre-pandemic levels, with double the number of people travelling so far in 2023 than in the same period last year.
Ask any parent what the modern world's greatest invention is, and they will probably point to the disposable nappy. It freed parents from the time-sapping routine of constantly washing and drying cloth nappies and has had a transformative effect on family life.
With just one month to go until World Environment Day on 5 June, which will focus on solutions to plastic pollution, we look back at how a mountain advocate raised the alarm on the tide of waste inundating fragile ecosystems.
Nairobi, 3 March 2023 – Governments, industry, civil society organizations and chemical experts from across the world moved closer to a global agreement to better manage chemicals and waste and protect the environment and human health, especially that of vulnerable populations.
Antimicrobial resistance or AMR is considered one of the top global public health problems. It also poses an urgent and critical threat to animal and plant health, food security and economic development.
When the gavel came down on the resolution to end plastic pollution at the resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) in Nairobi last March, there were hugs and tears among the delegates. The emotion reflected the importance of this historic milestone: a legally binding global instrument toward ending plastic pollution.
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a semi-arid country with distinctive natural features including valleys, mountain ranges and desert plateaus. The country has a rich array of wildlife protected in several nature reserves. But the climate crisis has exacerbated Jordan’s already harsh desert landscapes, causing natural habitats to decline significantly.
Punta del Este, 02 December 2022 – Over 2,500 in-person and virtual delegates from 147 countries, engaged in the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-1) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
This story was originally published on 1 June 2022 and has been updated.
The creation this month of a new marine reserve in Ecuador will secure a biological corridor for endangered species, including sea turtles, manta rays, whales and sharks.
Along the southeastern coast of Uruguay lies Punta del Este, a city known for its beaches, woodlands and, now, as the site where historic negotiations to end global plastic pollution will begin.
New season, new styles, buy more, buy cheap, move on, throw away: the pollution, waste, and emissions of fast fashion are fueling the triple planetary crisis.
Antimicrobial drugs, such as antibiotics, have saved the lives of millions of people around the world. However, the very drugs that have contributed so much to human health and prosperity are at risk of becoming a global public health threat due to burgeoning antimicrobial resistance.
As humanity’s desire for new technology grows, so do the mountains of potentially toxic electronic waste.
Some 54 million metric tonnes of phones, computers and other so-called e-waste are produced a year, according to data from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and partners.
Severe flooding this year in Pakistan, Nigeria and, most recently, Chad not only destroyed crops, homes and infrastructure. It also inundated latrines, sewers and open defecation sites, funnelling pathogen-laced sludge into drinking water supplies and sparking disease outbreaks.
Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, 17 November 2022 – An Integrated Assessment of Air Pollution and Climate Change for Sustainable Development in Africa released today by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the African Union
When wildfires swept across western North America in the summer of 2021, they left a path of destruction in their wake, razing forests, farmland and even entire towns.
But new science suggests the fallout from the blazes extended far beyond those charred landscapes.
Sharm El-Sheikh, 15 November 2022 – At the 27th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP 27), ministers and leaders from more than 40 Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) countries came together alongside dozens of partners from intergovernmental organizations, businesses, scientific institutions and civil society organizations to announce new collaborative eff
The Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) is a new initiative to scale up global efforts to detect and act on major emissions sources in a transparent manner and accelerate implementation of the Global Methane Pledge.
Methane released by human activities is responsible for around 25% of anthropogenic climate change.
MARS will alert governments, companies and operators about large methane sources to foster rapid mitiga
As the United Nations Climate Conference (COP27) unfolds in Egypt, there are growing calls for countries to protect conserve and restore the ocean, which experts say is crucial for reducing further global warming and helping communities adapt to the fallout from the climate crisis; as wel
World leaders, heads of business and civil society members will descend on the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El Sheikh on Sunday for the United Nations Climate Conference (COP27).